"But, say, aren't we going after those rascals? Remember, even though we have rescued Mrs. Stanhope, they still have the fortune!"

"Sure, we are going after 'em!" cried d.i.c.k. "Go ahead!"

The order to proceed was given, but, much to the captain's chagrin, the tug refused to get up any speed. Then came a report from the engineer that the sudden reversing of the engine had broken some of the machinery.

They could run, but it would have to be slowly.

"Then they'll get away after all!" groaned Sam. "And with that fortune, too!"

"Fortune?" came from Mrs. Stanhope, who was standing near the boiler, trying to dry her wet garments. "What about the fortune, boys?"

"Haven't they got that fortune with them?" questioned Tom, quickly.

"Oh, no, they buried it, in the cave on the island," was the answer.

"They didn't know I saw them, but I did. Tad Sobber and Mr. Crabtree said they would come back, after-after-" And here she blushed deeply.

"After old Crabtree had forced you to marry him, I suppose," whispered d.i.c.k.

"Yes, d.i.c.k. But, oh! I didn't want to do it! He tried to hypnotize me, just as he tried to do years ago-but I fought him off as best I could!"

answered Mrs. Stanhope, earnestly.

"He ought to be in prison again!" muttered d.i.c.k.

"If the fortune is on the island, let us go and get it," cried Sam. "We can't catch that motor boat anyway!" For the craft was now all but out of sight.

The steam tug was headed for Chesoque Island, and slowly made her way to the old dock. There the engineer and his a.s.sistant set to work to make the necessary repairs, while the three Rover boys and Mrs. Stanhope visited the cave. Once in the underground opening, the lady pointed out the spot where the valise containing the fortune had been secreted between the rocks.

"Here it is!" cried Tom, and dragged the valise to light.

"Open it and see if the fortune is safe!" came from Sam, in a voice he tried in vain to steady.

The key to the valise was missing, so the lock to the bag had to be broken open. Inside were the gold and precious stones.

"All here-or at least the greater portion of it," was d.i.c.k's comment, and he was right. Only about five hundred dollars in gold was missing, and two small diamonds-hardly worth mentioning beside the total value of the treasure.

"Hurrah!" shouted Tom. "We've beaten them after all! We've got the treasure!"

"And Mrs. Stanhope," added d.i.c.k. "We must send word to Dora and the others just as soon as we can!"

"It's a pity we didn't catch those rascals," murmured Sam.

"Oh, we'll get them some time!" said d.i.c.k. How they fell in with their enemies again will be related in another volume of this series, to be ent.i.tled, "The Rover Boys in the Air; or, From College Campus to the Clouds," a tale telling the particulars of several happenings far out of the ordinary.

While the steam tug was laid up for repairs, several of the party took a walk and looked for Koswell, Larkspur and Darkingham. But they looked in vain, for those rascals were thoroughly frightened, and kept themselves well hidden in the woods.

That evening found the Rover boys and Mrs. Stanhope in Portland, where they put up at one of the leading hotels. Messages were sent to Dora, the Lanings, and the Rovers at home, telling of the rescue of Mrs. Stanhope, and of the recovery of the fortune. Then Mrs. Stanhope told how she had been lured from her home and abducted, and then placed in the care of Mrs. Sobber, and how she had managed to mail the postal card.

"They treated me kindly enough," she said. "But they would not let me have my liberty, and I think they told outsiders that I was insane."

"That is just what they did," answered d.i.c.k.

A general alarm was sent out for Sobber, Crabtree and the others. But they kept in the dark and were not captured.

"Oh, how glad I shall be to get back home!" murmured Mrs. Stanhope, when the return was begun. "It seems an age since I went away!"

"Dora will be glad to see you," answered d.i.c.k.

"I owe you and your brothers a great deal, d.i.c.k!" she went on earnestly.

"You are all n.o.ble young men!" And this earnest praise made all of the Rover boys blush.

The return to Cedarville was a great event. Dora clasped her mother in her arms and laughed and wept by turns, and then threw herself into d.i.c.k's embrace.

"Oh, d.i.c.k! It was splendid!" she cried. "Oh, I shall never forget it, never!" And then she kissed him right in front of everybody.

The Lanings were equally pleased, and Nellie and Grace were proud of the parts Tom and Sam had played in the affair.

"You are a regular hero!" said Nellie to Tom, and gave him a glance that thrilled him through and through.

"And we shall always remember what you did!" added Grace, to Sam.

"You did better than the authorities," was Mr. Anderson Rover's comment.

"The authorities did nothing," added Mr. Laning. "If it hadn't been for your boys--" And then he bobbed his head enthusiastically. "Great lads!

fine lads!" he added.

"Whoop!" cried Tom, in sudden high spirits, and catching Sam by the arms and whirling him around. "Say, I suppose now we can go back and finish that vacation, eh?"

"Sure thing, Tom!" cried Sam.

And then both set up a merry whistle; and here let us take our leave and say good-bye.

THE END